Ethics

MWF (3:00-4:00)
Nov. 18, 2013
Passed by:
Balikid, Jither
Baliosan, Marcline
Julian, Ace
Marcelino, Venus

Passed to:
Sir Wilfredo Andong




Determinants of Human Act
1. Act Itself
The object of the refers to the very nature of the act itself. What is the act itself? An act that is
a physical tendency towards a definite objective or result. This objective is identified as the end of the
act (finis operis), which is distinguished from the end of the agent (finis operantis).
A morally good act must agree in its objective; so in its circumstances. A human act becomes
evil if fail to conform in anyone of the determinants (Glenn: 103). That the act is good in itself is not
enough; it must be good too in its circumstances and in its end.
FOR EXAMPLE,
a) The act is stealing,
2. Motives
A reason for doing something,Something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act. The motive is
either good or bad.

Ex. a) (lets take the example in no. 1 STEALING) its motive is to satisfy his hunger.
3. Circumstances
Circumstances are the condition prevailing within the environment in which the act was
performed. These affect the performance of the act. Thus, these are determinants of the morality of
the act. Examples of these are place, time, people, the physical condition of the place, among others.
To find out what are the circumstances, we usually ask the question: who?, and what?, where?
When?, with?, whom?, under condition?, and why? (Glenn: 114). By who circumstance, we
mean who is the agent of the act; to whom was the act done. We mean the people involved in the
commission of the act. For example, Leo raped his daughter Susan in front of the people
(witnesses) who saw the commission of the crime, the criminal and the victim? Circumstances of the
place refers to the locus of the act Where means not simply the place. It asks what kind of the place,
the nature of the place. Was he act done in the street? In the water? Inside the church? In
Malacanang? For instance, did Leo raped his daughter in their bedroom in their home?
The circumstances of means (ally) refers to the instrumentally that contribute to the
commission of the act. Thus, a gun was stolen and used to murder an innocent person. Here two act
evil was done.
In what condition means the manner or how the act was done. Was the agent drunk, or under
abnormal situation like broken- hearted/ was the crime (act) done in revenge for his murdered
mother? How many stab wounds/ did he cut the body into pieces and threw them away?
Circumstances of time ask when. Why refers to the circumstances of the end of the
agent. Is it a reasonable purpose appropriate for the agent? Did he kill out of revenge? Or the murder
was done for the sake of merely doing the act or curiosity I or in order to be a killer?
Ex. (lets take the example in no. 1 STEALING)its circumstances is either he will be put to jail
or not.